Half a Year Later

And I'm back.  

Lately I  ...

- Have been doing lots of arts and crafts with the Star Room Monsters.. I mean Love Bugs?

-Celebrated L-Boy's sister's bachelorette party in Miami

-Then celebrated her new marriage at her wedding

-Got Preaky in Baltimore with my besties

-Started living at the beach with this stud

-Turned 23

-Have obviously not been blogging.  But who's ready for summer vacation?!

Now that school is approaching summer break and my shore house actually has internet, I'm going to do my best to start writing more.  Let's see how long this lasts.  

Until next time...

The Unofficial, Official End

I wonder who decided the first Monday of September would be the "official" end of summer. According to the calendar, that person will always be wrong considering the actual official end of summer is always September 21st. Maybe I'm not yet ready to trade my bikinis for boots. I want more beach days. 

I also want to know who decided it was unfashionable to wear white after Labor day. Because I say, why not?

Here's how I spent my LDW:

Last DJais HH of the summer :( 

Go 49! <3 

Labor Day White-Out; Terps v Miami   -- Go Terps! 

I may be in denial that summer is over, but I sure did love me a Labor-less weekend. Jersey Shore, watching the boo play football, and a Terps victory made for one happy girl. 

Anyway... Is it Memorial Day Weekend Yet? 

So Long Sweet Summer

When I looked in the mirror this morning I was at least two shades paler than I remember myself and that's how I know it's September.

I know most of my friends are looking forward to Fall -and don't get me wrong because I can't wait for Football Games and Pumpkin treats- but I am always slightly depressed when August ends because that means my beach days are limited.

It's been real, Sweet Summer.

Time for some self-tanner.

Mixed Feelings

This summer is going by altogether quite too fast and I don't know how I feel about it. 

I woke up with conflicting feelings of excitement and depression this Friday of my last weekend at home of the summer. 

Excited because it's Friday and that means a trip down the shore and HH at D'Jais. Not to mention two out of three roomies are visiting me all way from Baltimore to experience the Jersey Shore. Can't wait to see them, pray the weather holds out! 

Depressed because quite frankly I'm not ready to have a schedule again. Not ready to part with the lifestyle I will leave behind in NJ - where my biggest uncertainty is whether I will go to the beach that morning or what Hot Yoga class I'll take that day. Not quite ready for the uncertainty of completing homework assignments and the fickle autumn weather I'll have to trek through to get around campus. 

Today I plan on temporarily pretending like I have nothing to do and having fun with my girlfriends. Tomorrow I will watch C's first intra-squad scrimmage and hopefully grab a bite to eat with him afterwards. Sunday I'll celebrate my Momma's bday and act like I won't be just a three and a half hour drive away from Fall Semester Reality. Who's with me? 

Lazy Day Confessional

It was raining when I woke up this morning. 

Now the grey skies have surrendered to partially sunny ones, but I'm mentally still in a rainy day.  I anticipated gloominess for today late last night, and accepted the fact that I wouldn't be driving to the beach. I decided I would be productive for the first half of my morning - get my oil changed, pack for school, go shopping, etc. - and then rent a movie to watch on the couch with my sister, a lifeguard who would be off from work due to inclement weather.

Well. Around 10:45 the sun came out and ruined all of my lazy plans.  At 11:00 I agreed to bring my sister to work and at 12:00 my mom, as my car was left at the dealership and I had to borrow Mom's. By 12:05 the sun was shining strongly and the few rays my arms absorbed through the sunroof just wasn't enough. I yearned for the beach. Actually, the beach called to me. I could feel it. 

At 12:06 I had to make a very mature choice. I decided it was border-line too late to get my bathing suit and drive DTS; my time would be better spent being productive at home. Plus, I had no convertible to drive.

Well. Here I am, depressed because the sun is teasing me through the window panes while the rain left me with scars of lethargy; hence here I lay on my couch watching Country Music Videos feeling sorry for myself.  I fear for the well-being of my tan (only three days until I return to MD) yet can't stop watching Josh Turner on my TV Screen.  

For your entertainment, the most perfect male specimen to ever walk this earth:

If I can ever stop watching my new Hunky Southern Obsession I am going to pack and go to the gym before I have to pick my sister up.  Or I'll nap. 

Weekend Recap - We Went "Out Last Night"

"Well the fact that I'm still breathing 

Means that I must have survived 

And that I'll live to go out with 

My friends again tonight"

-Kenny Chesney, Out Last Night

My friends and I had quite an eventful weekend, and needless to say, when Kenny sang this song live we all went crazy - dancing, laughing and singing together front row (of the 3rd tier) at Giants Stadium. 

Friday morning began with a sunny top-down drive Parkway South. The weather was so gorgeously humidity-less and cool it didn't even hit 80 by 9am! Would you believe me if I told you I actually turned the heat on at my feet because it felt COLD driving with the top down? True story.

My bff and I spent allllll day bronzing on 13th ave and by 3:30 I was crispy enough to exit the beach and begin prepping myself for Djais Happy Hour - the hour I've been waiting for for 21 years. Happy hour turned into a very Happy Five and a Half Hours, and we turned in early(ish?) to get some (debatable) sleep. My feet were covered in DJais grime and my fist was all pumped out, but I'll admit it was still hard to leave that place when my friends proclaimed it time to go. 

We were all in agreement that we needed a good night's sleep (although it never happened) because we would be tailgating in the heat of Parking Lot J at the New Giants Stadium for the much anticipated Kenny Chesney Concert. 

By 11am, we were strategically parked (16 of us, in 3 cars all of which were double parked for supreme tailgate positioning.) 

By 6pm we were multiple cases of beer in, four rounds of grilling finished and two hour late for the concert. We made it in just in time for Zac Brown Band's introduction... which was phenomenal by the way.  Zac Brown Band was honestly amazing. I think I was more impressed with them than Kenny... musically speaking, of course.  KC's stage presence is undeniably energizing and entertaining, and let's face it, he's beyond eye candy. I basically swooned every time he wiggled his hips or the camera got a close up of his babyface. My eyes liked Kenny the best, but my ears loved Zac. 

There were so many great highlights about this concert:

- The guest appearances (Nick Swisher <3, Rex Ryan, Minka Kelly ... to name a few)

- Singing Boys of Fall ... I may have shed a tear watching our boys embrace during this one. I wish C could have been there.

- KC's tight jeans

- Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington AND ZacBrownBand coming back on stage to perform with Kenny

-Etc, etc. 

I didn't get home until well after midnight and I was overly exhausted, achy, cranky when I had to wake up at 7:00 the next morning ... but the concert was well worth it. 

Sunday I drove 45 minutes in a monsoon to C's school, a trip that is usually a much safer 30 minute ride. Once I got there, however, we had a lovely breakfast and of course I didn't mind the rain, nor it being so early.   I miss that boy; I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I love me some football but I can not WAIT until the college season is over. For now, I'll stop complaining and be thankful for the hour and a half I got to spend with him on a rainy Sunday morning :) 

And now it's Monday, my body is still recovering but I have to ignore my aches and be productive because tomorrow starts serious preparations for Student Teaching. Ah! Where did summer go?!!!!! 

In on the Seacret

It was Kelly's 21st birthday last week so we ventured down to her father's beach home for the weekend to celebrate. We went out to a beach bar the first night and enjoyed overly priced beers and a small sandy dance floor.  The next day was spent bronzing on the beach in between dodging patches of scattered thunder storms.  

Then the night we had all been awaiting, the legendary Saturday night out at Seacrets. 

For my non-OCMD-ers, Seacrets is the DJais, Bar A, Karma, and Tiki Bar of the NJ Shore combined into one giant party zone.  "Jamaica USA," as the bar boasts, is a city within the city of OC. With about a trillion bars, four dance floors, a pier, and three venues for live music, it is a beachy heaven.  

Probably less known for their food than for their frothy blended drinks, Jamaica USA still provided a delicious dinner for us to begin our night.  The food was surprisingly delectable. What was even better was my Jamaican Bobslide (triple espresso vodka and coffee frappe,) my Pain in De Ass (Rum Runner and Pina Colada) and my Dirty Banana (a daquiri, but better, with an entire banana blended in it.) 

I was forewarned that this was a breeding ground for middle-aged white trash. However, I think what I liked most about the place was the people.  While I observed my fair share of 40-somethings bearing freshly burnt noses and a sway in their swag - obvious signs of prolonged Seacrets exposure - the place was also filled with my peers, my parents' peers, my grandparents' peers, white people, black people, rainbow people, you name it. As Jillie so eloquently put it, these people were "just like, real people." 

Most people enjoying themselves in bikinis weren't size two models and there wasn't a single old man to creep out packs of Teeny Boppers.  Everyone fit in for a common cause: to get drunk and dance on the beach.  

I think that's the Secret - no discrimination as long as you're having a good time. And you'd have to trying pretty damn hard to not have a good time. 

Oh and it opens at 8am. Closes at 2am. What are you waiting for? 

4th of July

The Fourth of July might seriously be my favorite holiday of the year. Aside from the obvious (sparkles in the sky, parties with family and friends, cheesy festive outfits) here's why: 

Today my calves are sore from literally running up the inclines that lead all the way to the tippy-top of the home of Terrapin Football: Byrd Stadium. 

I've had a stomachache all day, probably due to an overdose of grilled food (sausages, onions and peppers, burgers, etc.) and the war the American (Bud Light) and Mexican (Corona Extra) beers are battling inside me currently. 

My body felt uncomfortably restricted by the boundaries of real clothes.  Since Friday I woke up every morning and put on a bathing suit. The first weekend in July is the perfect excuse to leave pants behind. 

Looks like hours in the sun can really take a toll on you physically. And not in the good bronzed-skin kind of way, more like the I-can-barely-keep-my-eyelids-open long enough to finish this post kind of way. I knew I was exhausted this morning when I couldn't wake up for my favorite 7am spin class and I impatiently snapped at a few of my students mid-afternoon. Sincerest apologies from Ms. Yelencsics. 

The morning of the Fourth of July I thought I wasn't going to make it to celebrate my favorite holiday.

I almost surrendered the Fourth of July to hardcore celebrations of the First, Second, and Third of July. In this way the Third of July is comparable to Cinco De Mayo: It's simply an excuse for Americans to drink more beer with no significant reasoning, with consequences felt on the following day. The only difference? The Fourth of July holds importance that the Sixth of May does not. 

Thankfully, an excited Jillie pulled through and got me back in the pool-going, parking-lot-grilling, adventure-seeking spirit. Phew. 

I spent the afternoon napping at the pool, tailgating in Lot 1 for the College Park fireworks (which, btw, were the best best best fireworks I ever did see) and eventually sneaking into the football stadium to cross one more thing off my Bucket List: Climb to the top of Byrd Stadium after dark.  (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I was terrified. But we succeeded.  After climbing two fences, hurdling a bike rack and running for what seemed like years, we made it to the top... only to be met by flashlight-bearing Police Officers demanding we "Sneak right back on out whatever way we snuck on in." 

Sarah mesmerized by the BYRD's eye view

Whatever, it was.so.worth.it. Not only were we close enough to the fantastic show on campus to feel our hearts beating with every explosion, we were also able to see fireworks from Downtown DC and Greenbelt.  It was magical. Despite the terror I felt being confronted by two big police officers (I'm such a baby), the soreness my body aches with, and the overwhelming exhaustion, I wish I could relive this weekend over and over again.

Mark my words: July 4th 2012 will be conducted with greater than or equal to as much beer, possibly less desserts, and another trespassing attempt to enjoy the best firework spectacular and thrill of my life. 

Oh, and I love my friends. and America. God Bless us all. 

The Observations of an Outsider

I like to think of myself as an optimistic person. Despite the serious lack of funds with which my four-week unemployment left me, I used the unemployment opportunity to my advantage and turned my free time into beach time.  I studied and practiced the strategies that create exceptional Jersey Shore experiences. I became a Beach connoisseur. A professional Jersey Shore girl.

Then I moved back to Maryland. Although I was excited to start working (broke was an understatement) and to see my roommates, I couldn't help but feel slightly depressed to move so far from the shore.  After 24 hours I was already stressing about when the next time would be when I could lay in the sand and soak up uninterrupted sun. "I want to go to the beach this weekend!" I declared the minute I returned from my five hour work day on Monday. Luckily, Katlyn understood my deep desire and replied with the procurement of house keys to her parent's beach home in Western Ocean City.

Driving to a beach other than in Jersey felt funny. I felt like an outsider, an alien in a foreign land, a Jersey Girl in a land of Skater Bros and Surfer .. er, girls.

For the curious non-Maryland native, here's the low-down on Ocean City through the eyes of a loyal Jersey Girl:

• The beach town is  l o n g. Instead of splitting into separate beaches (like how Belmar turns into Spring Lake after a certain block) it lasts over 145 blocks.  And there is only one main drag you can drive from first street to one-hundred-forty-something street with insane drivers and traffic lights every block. 

• People make u-turns. No jug handles; just balls-to-the-walls u-turns around medians between drivers going 60 mph. You would never see one of these on Ocean Ave back at home: 

• I ordered a sub one night. The woman with six teeth behind the counter looked like I had six heads. Oil and Vinegar? An Italian Roll? You would have thought I was asking for a winning lottery ticket. Impossible. Instead I got Turkey, lettuce, and tomato on a soft roll without the mayo the server tried to make me feel stupid for resisting. 

• Like Jersey, there were a ton of tan shirtless boys walking the streets. The difference was these boys are "bros" with short red shorts and long, sunkissed hair blowing in the wind.  The Guidos of Belmar wouldn't be caught dead with shorts that short. 

• Almost everyone put a blanket down, and their towels on top of the blanket. Why?

• Scopes. Probably the most bizarre concept an outsider looking in must attempt to grasp. Here's the general idea as relayed to me by roommates: A "Scopes" guy or girl lives at the Ocean with a gang of other "Scopes" kids and spends their days (9-5, 7 days a week) walking their designated area of sand, camera bag and obnoxious key chains in tow, begging vacationers to allow them to take their photograph. Because if they do, they can forever cherish a memory of their family posing unnaturally on the beach by peering into a a 1"x3" mini-telescope that can double as a keychain. Rumor has it that they're ridiculously expensive to purchase. Why.would.you.ever?  Locals are visibly annoyed by the constant prodding by "Scopes" workers and onlookers just laugh at the poor Foreigner or new Mom who gives into the Scope Pressure. 

• Exhibit A:I will say that while I would never want to spend my time on the beach lugging a giant camera bag and begging families to allow me to take their photograph, I am envious of the tan and toned legs these Scopes kids procure by endlessly hiking on the beach by the end of the summer

• The beach is FREE. Everywhere! I see two potential outcomes if this became the case in NJ: a) I would be at least a seasonal-badge worth richer every summer, yet, b) There is no saying who and what kind of creepy crawlers would end up on our beautiful shore, currently ruled by the fortunate beach-badge owners. 

All in all, it was an amazing weekend. I spent two days with my best friends, eating boardwalk junk, drinking cheap wine, and showing MD my best bronzing efforts. Not to mention, I obviously learned a lot.

A Year Ago Today...

I was spending my first day in Spain.  (Read about it here. )

Today, instead of getting settled into a hotel in Madrid, getting acclimated to strange breakfast foods and meetings new friends, I am preparing myself for my first Open House (!!) for summer camp and packing for a girls weekend in Ocean City.

Not quite as adventurous as touring a foreign country, but still exciting nonetheless.

I'll be back Monday with a recap! Wish me luck meeting the parents of my Purple Roomers!!

Have a great Weekend,
Ms. Yelencsics ;)

"Happiness is...

...sand in your toes and a sunburn on your nose." 

Do you know what my absolute favorite part of summer time is?

The way the moments just before the sun begins to set begin to cool the sand and calm the sea. The romantic backdrop of a pink-orange sky and the way it warms you no matter how chilly the evening breeze may be. The beach at sunset is definitely my favorite thing about summer.

Just ask Chris, he claims I told him this fact about me twelve times over a span of four days. I say he's exaggerating, but probably not by much. All four days spent in Cape May I got to savor my favorite summertime feeling because he let me swoon over the beach at sunset no matter what the rest of the night's plans entailed. For four evenings straight my toes were cold and I was happy.

Before we even got ourselves settled on Beach Avenue, C and I were on the beach cruisers scheming ways to avoid our departure 3 nights later.  There is an ever-present peaceful sort of excitement in a beach town that makes you never want to leave its simplicity. We rode into town, did some window shopping and ate a nice outdoor dinner.  

Coca Cola Display at the NutHouse

The store made just for me: 'Glitter Girl'

Friday's breakfast was a home-cooked joint effort. I made the pancake batter, set the table, prepped the eggs, while C flipped and scrambled. He even helped clean up. Reason #48 I am in love with this boy. 

The rest of the day was spent bronzing on the beach before going out to dinner (where we got our picture taken for the local magazine, yes we are now local celebrities) and walking the boards of a deserted Wildwood (where both of us were graced with the droppings of a single seriously ill Seagull.)

Special shout-out thanks to Aunt Doe & co. who treated us to a delicious breakfast at Uncle Bill's famous Pancake House on Saturday morning.  What a coincidence to be in CM the same day!

Saturday night included some experimentation. Sangria Slurpees were blended and enjoyed on the front deck to the sweet sounds of Bruce Springsteen Radio on Pandora. (Our Slurpee concoction will not be released to 7/11 just yet, some recipe adjustments are still to be made.)

Sunday came entirely too fast. We did our best to make the day last as long as possible, but the inevitable snuck up on us like we knew it would. With a long goodbye to the ocean at Sunset Beach, we set off in the White Knight headed north on the Parkway - coincidentally my least favorite place to be in the summer.

Can't wait until our next trip. For now I am thankful for the memories - and my front porch with which I can substitute the sand. Right now on my white rocking chair I write this post, smelling the sweet scent of approaching summer rain and it's not so bad to be at home.  

**Special thanks to Christopher for making this weekend so special for me. This was a birthday present to definitely remember forever xo Love you 

Perfection.

It is 11:53 PM on Sunday night, meaning I only have 7 minutes left of my perfect weekend.  Thursday through today were spent relaxing in beautiful Cape May with my handsome boyfriend and I could not have asked for anything more.  

Except maybe for an extra day. It is killing me to know that this weekend is coming to an end. 

I bid adieu to lay in bed & begin reading the new novel I purchased at the Cape May bookstore--depart from my amazing weekend and carefully enter the weekday in a realm of fiction, hanging on to the surreal perfection that was my mini-vacation and avoiding any real-life drama that comes with a Monday.

After-all, can you blame me for wanting to extend this feeling when my biggest concern for the past three days was how close the tide was getting to my towel? 

Cape May Getaway

Today I'm leaving for a weekend getaway with loverboy. Destination: Cape May. Can't wait to relax at the beach and eat all the salt water taffy (or Fudge in C's case) humanly possible. I'll be back Monday with a recap :)

I hope everyone else has something to look forward to this weekend! Enjoy the heat wave :) 

With Age Comes Wisdom

I learned a lot this first week of June. For instance, did you know the most effective way to peel kiwi is via peeler as if you were peeling potatoes? I made a delicious kiwi-banana smoothie after my workout and Momma taught me to use the peeler instead of my dangerous knife/fingernail combination method I previously used. Genius. 

I learned the trick to de-pit an avocado mess-free.  

Through trial and error I learned the DMV is closed on Mondays, and I am irked. 

In a round of family Question and Answers on the back deck, I learned that:

-the Creighton girls used to attend Christmas Eve mass after hosting (and participating in) keg parties at the house

- Billy dreams of making a grand entrance at his wedding with a fog machine and zip-line

- Pop had a more complicated family tree than I thought...it's more like a forrest of intertwined vines and branches.

- the term for "wooden spoon" in Hungarian sounds extraordinarily like an English profanity

- and a handful of other family secrets that would have your sides splitting in laughter and your jaws dropping in shock. But if I told you, I'd have to kill you.

I learned that I am a border-line boring human being with a family line that is anything but. 

They say with age comes wisdom and I think I'm learning that too. 

Celebrations, continued.

Four days later, and I'm still celebrating my birthday. Gotta love it. 

A mid-birthday-week recap:

I woke up early this morning to walk to my TRX class (such a good class, btw) and then I jogged home. I love the challenge of TRX and it felt so good to get that extra fresh air before and after the resistance workout.  

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Jessica, Diana and Bridget picked me up early afternoon to check out the Greek Festival in Westfield.

We were asked once if we were Greek, with which Diana and I (the only blonde girls in the entire venue) hesitantly replied "no,"  and more than once we were corrected on our mispronunciation of Greek cuisine. GreekFest was otherwise uneventful. Whatever, the baklava was worth it. 

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Family came over later for a backyard cook-out and birthday cake. Birthday presents, cold beer, grilled veggies, and family banter made for an awesome evening. I love my birthday simply because I have an excuse to get my family together and laugh until our stomachs hurt. The cake and presents are just an added bonus ;) 

Dad on his brand-new grill! 

Cookie Cake and Funfetti Cake ... de-lish. 

I probably sound like a broken record...but I am so thankful for the friends and family that celebrate with me on my birthday, and everyday. And just so you all know, after this week you won't have to read any more birthday-related posts (as per tradition my bday will be a week-long celebration) but I will continue to try to wake up every morning to "start each day like it's my birthday!" because quite frankly, I think we all deserve it. 

Cheers!